The global space economy could reach $1.8 trillion by 2035, according to projections from the World Economic Forum, drawing investor attention toward established hardware manufacturers and emerging artificial intelligence infrastructure providers. While initial market enthusiasm following the June public debut of Space Exploration Technologies has moderated, long-term financial opportunities across the sector continue to attract capital from investors balancing risk and reward.
Evaluating MDA Space and Established Industry Players
For investors seeking proven profitability rather than pre-revenue start-up risk, Canadian hardware provider MDA Space offers a distinct profile within the aerospace sector, according to market analysis. Founded in 1969, the company built a robotic arm for NASA’s Space Shuttle program in 1981 to deploy, retrieve, and repair payloads, and later launched the world’s first commercially focused radar satellite in 1995. Today, MDA Space manufactures satellites and develops robotic solutions for space repair and maintenance.
Financial results demonstrate steady operational performance. As of June 30, MDA Space recorded an adjusted net income of 102.5 million Canadian dollars, rising from CA$84.4 million during the same period in the prior year. The company’s stock climbed 48.6% over the year, outpacing the S&P 500 return of 13.2% over a comparable timeframe, driven by the essential nature of its manufacturing and hardware operations.
Pro Tip: When evaluating established space contractors versus newer pure-play operators, check for positive net income and government or commercial contracts that provide steady cash flow through capital-intensive development cycles.
Space Exploration Technologies and Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure
Space Exploration Technologies has experienced significant price swings since shares began trading publicly on June 12, trading between a high of $225.64 and a low of $104.83. Despite this volatility, the company stands out for its strategic focus on artificial intelligence infrastructure in space, according to its Form S-1 filing.
SpaceX reported a projected total addressable market of $28.5 trillion, with $26.5 trillion tied directly to artificial intelligence. Ground-based data centers already generate substantial revenue streams; rental agreements with Anthropic and Alphabet for compute capacity could yield $26 billion annually, representing a 39% increase over the company’s entire 2025 sales of $18.7 billion. An additional agreement with private firm Reflection AI could reach $6.3 billion if maintained through 2029.
Infrastructure expansion will extend beyond terrestrial facilities. In January, SpaceX filed regulatory paperwork to launch up to 1 million satellites configured as orbital data centers, with deployment scheduled as early as 2028. However, this expansion requires heavy spending. Capital expenditures for the company’s AI division reached $12.7 billion in 2025, outpacing the $3.8 billion spent on its space segment and the $4.1 billion allocated to its connectivity division.
Did You Know? The global space sector encompasses a wide range of operations, from satellite communications and defense launches to commercial space services and earth observation contractors.
Broader Sector Performance and Alternative Data
Broader market sentiment across space stocks has faced headwinds over a six-month stretch. According to data from AltIndex, an equal-weight basket of ten tracked aerospace and defense tickers recorded an average return of -16.1%, with individual performances varying widely. Karman Holdings declined 60.2%, while Redwire gained 23.2% and Astronics rose 25.7%. Northrop Grumman fell 31.6% and Raytheon Technologies dropped 3.6% over the same interval.
Alternative data platforms like AltIndex utilize proprietary scoring models combining fundamental metrics, technical analysis, and alternative signals—such as engineering hiring trends and employee sentiment—to rank aerospace equities. Pure-play operators and defense contractors continue to navigate long development cycles where financial health and engineering headcount serve as key indicators of operational stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the projected value of the global space sector?
According to the World Economic Forum, the global space sector could be worth $1.8 trillion by 2035.
How much revenue do SpaceX’s current data center deals generate?
Deals with Anthropic and Alphabet to rent compute capacity from ground-based data centers could generate $26 billion annually, according to company filings.
What financial results did MDA Space report recently?
As of June 30, MDA Space recorded an adjusted net income of 102.5 million Canadian dollars, up from CA$84.4 million in the prior-year period.
When did SpaceX file to launch orbital data center satellites?
In January, SpaceX filed to launch up to 1 million satellites to serve as data centers in orbit, with launches potentially beginning as early as 2028.
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